March 11, 2024
By Kylie Self
There is a shocking prevalence of drug use in our youth. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “10.9% of eighth graders, 19.8% of tenth graders, and 31.2% of twelfth graders” have used illicit drugs in the past year. These are astronomical numbers, with alcohol, nicotine, vaping, and cannabis being the most used drugs.
Why should you care? There are numerous consequences for drug abuse, not just for adults, but more so for teens. Because teens are going through major changes in their development, it is no surprise that their development suffers because of their substance abuse. Here are just some of the consequences of drug abuse, according to Jeff Johnson of Casa Palmera:
- More susceptible to life-long drug addiction
- Emotional problems: mood swings, depression
- Behavioral problems: aggression, social issues
- Risky behaviors: unprotected sex
- Learning problems: drugs damage short-term and long-term memory
- Brain damage: doing drugs rewires the brain, making it really hard to break bad habits and also leads to brain shrinkage, serious mental disorders, and impaired perception and intuition
Now that we know the effects of drugs, what can we do about it? Whether or not you have a teen at home or if you are a teen yourself, there are several ways that you can prevent drugs or treat them.
- Having an open-door policy: Parents, it is imperative to your children and the relationship you have with them that they are able to communicate with you about anything they are struggling with, without judgement. What they may tell you may shock you, but they need to know that you are there to love and support them, and get them help when needed. This does not mean that you should not have consequences for them, but it is crucial that you are there for your teen when they are struggling.
- Talk about it before it happens: As you can see from the statistics mentioned earlier, substance abuse can happen anytime. Talk with your teens about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and why it is important that they stay away from them. Talk about peer pressure and why it is okay to say no.
- Research rehabilitations centers and clinics in your area that specialize in teen addiction: It is important that you are knowledgeable about the different clinics that are in your area so that you can help your teen if they have already done drugs and they need professional help. There is nothing wrong with needing outside help.
- Be an active voice in your community and advocate for a drug-free community: This will help reduce the stigma around drug addiction and may help others reach out for help.
It is important that we treat our children with love and respect, or else we will not receive the same treatment. Be a good example, have heart-to-heart conversations, and foster a good relationship with your child. Who knows, it may just save their life.
